Drafting mechanism for textile fibers



1951 J. NOGUERA DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE FIBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 26, 1945 DRAFTING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE FIBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Nov. 26, 1945 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 DRAFTING MECHANISM FORTEXTILE FIBERS Joseph Noguera, Prestwieh, Manchester, England, assignorto Casablancas High Draft Company Limited, Manchester, England, aBritish company Application November 26, 1945, Serial No. 630,863 InGreat Britain September 28, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8,1946 Patent expires September 28, 1964 5 Claims. (Cl. 19-131) I Thisinvention relates to drafting apparatus for textile fibres of the kindin which the fibres pass between two endless belts which are supportedby means of transverse rollers.

Such apparatus normally comprises a twopronged tensor, the prongs ofwhich are located within the respective belts and are arranged to holdthe front parts of the belts in the correct working position and at apredetermined distance apart. Alternatively, the apparatus comprises twoseparate single-pronged tensors which are similarly located within therespective belts. The tensor member or members is/ are supported by acradle or cage which forms the body of the apparatus and is supported bythe belt-supporting rollers. Such cradle normally consists of a pair ofside plates which are recessed to engage the belt-supporting rollers andare connected together by at least two transverse rods or bars. Acomposite form of cradle has been suggested, however, which consists ofupper and lower parts, each comprising two side plates which areconnected together by means of transverse members, and which are adaptedto be coupled up to form the complete cradle.

In all such known types of apparatus, therefore,

the cradle is a rigid structure and is liable to be distorted throughcareless handling or accident, and to be put into use in suchunsatisfactory condition. In addition, the transverse rods or bars areundesirable from the point of view of the operation of the apparatus,since they constitute obstructions which encourage the accumulation offluff and dirt in the vicinity of the apparatus. Furthermore, thecomposite type of cradle has the disadvantages firstly that theslightest damage to either component may result in their not coupling upaccurately with consequent deterioration in the efiiciency of theapparatus, and secondly that it is not readily adaptable to the use ofthe double-pronged type of tensor which is the most satisfactory forensuring that the desired distance between the prongs is maintained. Theprincipal object of the present invention is to provide a draftingapparatus of the kind described, in which the risk of distortion ispractically eliminated, and which is simpler and cleaner in operation.In particular, it is desired to dispense with all obstructive transversemembers whilst retaining the possibility of using the desirabletwo-pronged tensor.

According to the invention, drafting apparatus of the kind describedcomprises a cradle constltuted by two independent side plates which aremounted on the belt-supporting rollers and a two-pronged tensor, theside plates being maintained in position by engagement with slots in theupper prong of the tensor, the prongs of which are located within therespective belts in the usual way.

The invention thus requires the use of a new form of tensor. The prongsof the new tensor are formed along their forward edges in the usual wayto exert the desired nip on the belts, but the upper prong is providedat each end of its rear edge with an enlarged portion in which is formeda deep slot. The forward edges of the side plates are formed withnotches in their upper portion which are adapted to fit around the upperprong of the tensor in such manner that substantially the upper edges ofsaid notches enter said slots in the upper prong whereby the side platesare maintained against lateral displacement. The lower portions of theforward edges of the side plates are recessed to seat on the lower prongof the tensor although said lower prong is not slotted' to engage saidlower portions to any great extent. The lower prong is, however,advantageously formed with deep slots as described in connection withthe upper prong, so that if the tensor is inserted from the oppositeside of the apparatus, in which case the positions of the upper andlower prongs will be reversed, the upper prong will still present therequired slots for engagement with the upper notches in the side plates.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of atensor according to the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view taken from the lefthand end of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end view taken from the righthand end of Figure 1,

' Figure 4 is a section on the line AA of Figure 1, the end plate beingomitted,

Figure 5 is a section on the line B--B of Figure 1,

Figure 11 is a front view and,

Figure 12 is a back view. Referring to Figures 1-7, the tensor comprisesan end plate In and two prongs Ii extending from said end plate andterminating in foot members 12. The forward edges i3 of the prongs areformed in the usual way to exert the desired nip on the belts.

At their ends the prongs are formed with raised portions I4 on theirouter faces, said raised portions terminating short of the end plate Itand foot members l2, whereby deep slots l5 are formed at each end of theprongs. The forward edges of the side plates it are formed with notchesI! in their upper portions in such manner that the side plates areadapted to engage the prongs of the tensor with the upper edges of saidnotches I! entering the slots and resting on the upper prong, wherebythe side plates are maintained against lateral displacement with respectto the tensor. The lower portions of the forward edges of the sideplates are recessed to seat on the lower prong of the tensor althoughsaid lower portions do not enter the slots in the lower prong to anygreat extent. In fact, the lower prong need not be formed with slots butis advantageously so formed so that if the tensor is inserted from theopposite side of the apparatus, in which case the positions of the upperand lower prongs will be reversed, the upper prong still presents therequired slots for engagement with the notches H in the side plates. Itwill be understood that the thickness of the prongs H is dependent upontheir length, while the distance between the forward edges l3 determinesthe nip exerted on the belts and can be varied by altering theinclination of the prongs .H to the horizontal.

Referring now to Figures 8-12,, the side plates 16. are mounted on theshafts is of the rollers 19 supporting the belts 26, and are thus heldagainst longitudinal movement. The engagement of the side plates IS withthe prongs ii of the tensor as hereinbefore described preventstransverse movement of the side plates.

.It will thus be understood that the side plates and tensor are mutuallyself-supporting. Apart from its simplicity of construction and ease .ofhandling, the new arrangement has the important advantages that notransverse members are required to hold the side plates together so thatthere are no projections anywhere around the outer surfaces of the beltswith consequent increased cleanliness, while the apparatus is not sosusceptible to damage as are the previous rigid cage-like constructions.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. Drafting apparatus for textile fibres comprising two superimposedtransverse rollers, meansfor driving said rollers,two endlessbelts inthe form of elongated loops supported at their rear ends one on eachsaid roller, two independent side plate members resting on the lowerroller at their 5 rear portions and positioned one on each side of wardedge, and a. two pronged tensor, the prongs of which are located onewithin each said belt loop to correctly position the front ends of theloops, the upper prong of said tensor being formed with a slot adjacenteach end and each said slotted portion of the prong being inco-operating engagement with the upper surface engaging portion of thenotch in the adjacent side plate in such manner as to hold the said sideplates and tensor in their operative positions without other securingmeans.

2. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower parts ofthe forward edges of said side plates are cut back and away from thesurface having the notch at a point removed from said notch to define 'arecess having an upper surface engaging portion shaped to seat on thelower prong of said tensor.

3. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the slots areformed in enlarged portions at each end of the upper prong.

4. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said tensorcomprises an end plate and two prongs extending from said end plate andterminating in foot members, at least the upper of said prongs beingformed with slots in its rear edge adjacent each end for cooperationwith the notches in the side plates and said prongs having their forwardedges formed to exert the required nip on the belts.

5. For use in drafting apparatus for textile fibres in which two endlessbelts in the form of elongated loops are supported, one on each of apair of superimposed transverse driven rollers,

" a belt guiding and positioning device comprising two independent sideplate members adapted .to rest, towards their rear ends, on said lowerroller, one on each side of said belts, said side plate members eachbeing formed with an elongated notch in the forward edge, said notchhaving upper and lower surface engaging portions, and a two prongedtensor the prongs of which are adapted to be located one within eachsaid belt loop between the forward ends of said side plates to correctlyposition the front parts of the loops, the upper prong of said tensorbeing ,formed with a slot adjacent each :end and each slotted Portion ofthe prong being adapted to engage the upper surface portion of saidnotch in the adiacent side plate so as $0 hold the said side plates andtensor against relative lateral displacement without the aid ofadditional securing means.

JOSEPH NOGUERA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references :are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,917,699 :Casablancas- July 11,1933 2,035,318 Casablancas Apr. 7, 1936 2,075,571 Casablancas Man 36,1937 2,132,299 Jackson Oct. 4, 1938 FORE-EGN PATENTS Number Country Date638,797 Germany l Nov. 23,1936

